Overview
Instead of asking “Is this belief justified?”, Virtue Epistemology asks “Is this person a good thinker?” It focuses on intellectual character traits.
Core Idea
Intellectual Virtues: Traits that help you get to the truth.
- Curiosity: Wanting to know.
- Open-mindedness: Willingness to consider other views.
- Intellectual Humility: Admitting when you are wrong.
- Tenacity: Not giving up on a hard problem.
Formal Definition (if applicable)
Intellectual Vices: Traits that block knowledge.
- Dogmatism: Refusing to change your mind.
- Gullibility: Believing anything.
- Intellectual Laziness: Taking the easy answer.
Intuition
A good detective isn’t just someone who follows the rules of logic. They are someone who is observant, careful, and fair. Knowledge is an achievement of character.
Examples
- The Scientist: Ideally embodies objectivity and skepticism.
- The Conspiracy Theorist: Often exhibits vices like closed-mindedness (to contrary evidence) and gullibility (to their own theory).
Common Misconceptions
- “Virtues are just for saints.” (They are skills we can all practice.)
- “It’s just ethics.” (It’s about epistemic goods—truth and understanding—not just moral goods.)
Related Concepts
- Responsibilism: Knowledge requires responsible agency.
- Reliabilism: Virtues are just reliable cognitive faculties (like good memory).
- Wisdom: The ultimate intellectual virtue (knowing how to live well).
Applications
- Education: Teaching students to be curious, not just to pass tests.
- Politics: We need virtuous citizens who can evaluate arguments.
- Internet: Navigating fake news requires intellectual caution.
Criticism / Limitations
“Situationism” in psychology suggests that character traits aren’t stable. We might be open-minded at work but dogmatic at home.
Further Reading
- Zagzebski, Virtues of the Mind
- Roberts & Wood, Intellectual Virtues